Modi becomes India's second-longest-serving PM with record defence overhaul

Prime Minister Narendra Modi achieved a historic milestone by surpassing Indira Gandhi as India's second-longest serving leader after Jawaharlal Nehru. His administration transformed the defense sector through the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which reduced import dependency and boosted domestic manufacturing capabilities. Defense exports expanded dramatically from Rs 4,312 crore during 2004-2014 to Rs 88,319 crore in the following decade, establishing India among the world's top 25 arms exporters. The government developed indigenous platforms like LCA Tejas fighter aircraft, Prachand helicopters, and Dhanush artillery systems while creating defense corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Military operations demonstrated India's enhanced strategic posture through surgical strikes after the Uri and Pathankot attacks, Balakot airstrikes following Pulwama, and Operation Sindoor responding to the Pahalgam incident.